JOBC Cubs Almanac--January 31

Today's Featured Cub: Ernie Banks

On this day in 1931, Ernie Banks was born. 22 years later he became the first African American player to play for the Chicago Cubs.

The way he became a Cub is almost a fluke. At the end of the 1953 season, Gene Baker was called up to be the first African-American Cubs player. Ernie was signed shortly thereafter from the Kansas City Monarchs. They signed Ernie strictly because they needed another black player to room with Baker. If they didn’t have Baker, they wouldn't have signed Banks. They honestly had no idea what they were getting in Banks, either. One of the Cubs coaches, Ray Blades, gave Ernie a book called "How to play baseball" even though he had hit .380 for the Monarchs.

Banks only got in the lineup first because Baker was hurt (he got into a game three days later). At the time, inserting Banks into the lineup was a very controversial move, because shortstop was considered a "thinking man's" position, and Banks was the first African-American in Major League history to play shortstop on a regular basis.

Needless to say, it worked out just fine.

In a little known bit of trivia, he also was the first African-American manager. When manager Whitey Lockman was kicked out of a game in 1974, Ernie was the acting manager for one inning. Frank Robinson became the first full-time African American manager just a few months later.

Ernie Banks was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1977.


Today's Featured Baseball Card: Ernie Banks

(1955 Bowman Baseball Card)

This card features the stats from his rookie season of 1954: 593 at bats, 70 runs, 163 hits, 19 doubles, 7 triples, 19 homers, 78 RBI, and a .275 batting average. He finished second in the Rookie of the Year vote behind Wally Moon of the Cardinals.



Nickname of the Day: Mr. Cub

Why do they call Ernie Banks Mr. Cub? Ernie is among the top 5 all-time Cubs in games played (1st), at bats (1st), hits (2nd), runs (5th), doubles (3rd), home runs (2nd), and RBI (2nd). Unfortunately he also played in more losses than any other player in baseball history.



Wrigley at 100

(Photo: Wrigley Field postcard, 1940s)

On March 31, 2008, Ernie Banks became a part of Wrigley Field when the club unveiled his statue. It stands right in front of the main gate at Addison and Clark. Countless Cub fans take pictures in front of it every year.




Cup of Coffee

Ray Brown was born in Chicago on this day in 1889. He was only 20 years old when he got his cup of coffee with the Cubs in 1909, the tenth youngest player in league history at that point. He pitched exactly one game, on September 29, 1909 against the Phillies at West Side Grounds. Brown threw a five hit complete game victory. He never pitched in the big leagues again. After a few more seasons in the minors, he hung up his spikes at the tender age of 24.

Ray passed away in Los Angeles in 1955.


Other Cubs Birthdays

~Bob Ferguson 1845 (White Stockings 1878)
He was the player/manager for one season, and was known for his ferocious temper. He hit .351 as a player, but was fired because owner Al Spalding considered him tactless and brutish. Read his very interesting story at the Baseball Biography Project. (I love his nickname--"Death To Flying Things")

~Charlie Wiedemeyer 1914 (Cubs 1934)
Charlie was only 20 when he pitched for his hometown Cubs. It didn't go well (9.72 ERA). He pitched in the minors until 1938.



A/V Club

Ernie takes on Gil Hodges in home run derby. (Spoiler alert: Don't bet on Gil)

JOBC Cubs Almanac--January 24

Today's Featured Cub: Tim Stoddard

Tim Stoddard was born on this day in 1953. In college he played in a national championship game in both basketball and baseball for North Carolina State University. He was basketball teammates with superstar David Thompson, and had to cover Bill Walton in their Final Four game.

But he chose baseball over basketball and never looked back. He had a very successful 13-year big league career, including two seasons as the closer in Baltimore. Stoddard only pitched one season for the Cubs, but it just happened to be their division-winning season of 1984. He was the primary setup mustache for Lee Smith that year, saving seven games and winning ten in 58 appearances. After the season he was granted his free agency, and signed with the team that beat the Cubs in the playoffs, the San Diego Padres.

The Cubs got a first round pick as compensation and selected Rafael Palmeiro.


Today's Featured Baseball Card: Cliff Heathcote

(1933 Goudy Baseball Card)

Cliff Heathcote was born on this day in 1898. He became a Cub in 1922 when he was traded to them between games of a double header with the Cardinals. The Cardinals got Max Flack in return, and both players played for both teams that day. Cliff was an excellent defensive outfielder and played with the Cubs until 1930. On 8/25/22 he was part of the highest scoring game in baseball history. He reached base seven times during that 26-23 win. Cliff died tragically at the way too young age of 40 in 1939 from a pulmonary embolism.

The stats on this card are from his final season in the big leagues, 1932, with the Philadelphia Phillies: 33 at bats, 11 hits, 2 doubles, 0 triples, 1 homer, 5 RBI, and a .282 batting average.



Nickname of the Day: Bunk

He was born William Millar Congalton in Canada on this day 1875, but his Chicago teammates all called him "Bunk". He was 27 years old when he finally made the show in 1902 and the outfielder hit .239 in his one season in Chicago. He later had a few better seasons with Cleveland. Read Bunk's full story at the Baseball Biography Project.

He died in 1937 at the age of 62 after suffering a heart attack at a Cleveland Indians game.



Other Cubs Birthdays

~John Briggs 1934 (Cubs 1956-58)
He was a righthanded pitcher for the Cubs who saw limited duty over three seasons in the 1950s. His best year was '58 when he won 5 games in 17 starts.

~Ron Dunn 1950 (Cubs 1974-75)
Dunn was a backup infielder for the Cubs for two seasons. He had a total 112 at bats, and hit 3 homers.



A/V Club

On this day in 1916, Hall of Fame Cubs broadcaster Jack Brickhouse was born. Jack was the man that had to describe the play of play of a Cubs team that went twenty seasons in a row without being in the upper division. There were bright spots, though, and Jack was always able to find them. Just like his favorite player on the Cubs during that era, Ernie Banks...

JOBC Cubs Almanac--January 19

Today's Featured Cub: Willie Greene

On this day in 2000, the Cubs signed a slugging free agent third baseman to finally, once and for all, solve their long 3B woes.

His name was Willie Greene.

He batted .201 in more than 300 at bats and never played in the big leagues again.



Today's Featured Baseball Card: Ernie Banks

(Topps 1969 Baseball Card)

On this day in 1977, Ernie Banks was elected into Baseball's Hall of Fame in his first year on the ballot. He was the only player that received enough votes that year. Al Lopez, Amos Rusie, and Joe Sewell were also voted in by the Veteran's Committee.

On the back of this baseball card, you'll see the stats from Ernie's resurgent 1968 season: 552 at bats, 136 hits, 27 doubles, 0 triples, 32 homers, 83 RBI and a .246 average. He was 37 years old at the time.




Cup of Coffee

Future Cub Ollie Hanson was born on this day in 1896. He got a very brief shot with the Cubs in 1921. Very brief. Eight days, to be precise. In those eight days he was the starting pitcher twice. In his first start on April 27, 1921 at Redland Field, he pitched pretty well against Cincinnati. He went the distance and gave up only two runs in a 2-1 loss. His second start was his only one at Wrigley Field (then known as Cubs Park). He gave up five earned runs in one inning and was yanked out of the game. Ollie never made it back to the big leagues.

He passed away in New Jersey in 1951.



Other Cubs Birthdays

~Ken Frailing 1948 (Cubs 1974-76)
He was part of the Ron Santo trade with the White Sox (along with Steve Stone and Steve Swisher). He was mainly used as a swing man, switching between the bullpen and starting. He did pitch one complete game.

~Anthony Young 1966 (Cubs 1994-95)
Anthony will always be remembered for his O-fer streak. From April 14, 1994--May 1, 1994, Anthony went 27 consecutive starts without a win.

~Phil Nevin 1971 (Cubs 2006)
He was a member of the Cubs for exactly two months, but during that time the former #1 overall pick in the draft did pretty well. He hit 12 homers filling in for the injured Derrek Lee.

~Kevin Coffman 1965 (Cubs 1990)
The Cubs got him in the Jody Davis trade, and things never really worked out in Chicago. His 11.26 ERA in 18.2 innings pretty much sums it up.

~Chris Stynes 1973 (Cubs 2002)
He had a couple of really good seasons as a third baseman for the Reds before coming to Chicago, but with the Cubs he hit only .241. He's more remembered for his goggles than his hitting stroke.

~Amaury Telemaco 1974 (Cubs 1996-1998)
He did manage to pitch in the big leagues for nine seasons, but if you look at his stats, you have to wonder how he pulled it off. His lifetime ERA is 4.94.



A/V Club

Ernie was elected into the Hall of Fame on this day in 1977, but he received an even higher honor in November of 2013. He won the Presidential Medal of Freedom.